Millie's Fling

Hilarous from beginning to end. Keeps the reader wondering, what could possibly happen next. Brilliant comedic romance writing at it's best! If you haven't read a Jill Mansell book yet, read this one.

Jill Mansell has surpassed herself once again in Millie's Fling. Chicklit and women's fiction readers will enjoy this spontaneous journey in Cornwall, England. Millie is a down-to-earth girl, whose life is a bit like Mr. Bean's because she tends to fall into ridiculous situations unwittingly. Her roomie, Hester, is in a long-term relationship with an up-and-coming chef, Nat, but still has a flamethrower burning for an old love, Lucas Kemp. Millie's Fling is the age-old search for love and happiness, but this serendipitous journey is rounded out with Orla Hart, a highly successful author with marital problems whom Millie befriends atop a cliff. Happily single, Millie consistently tries to keep her roomie on the right relationship track since Hester's boyfriend has taken a job in Glasgow to further his career as a chef. By chance, Millie stumbles upon a lost wallet in the bushes--a wallet that becomes the tie between her and Hugh Emerson, a young recently widowed computer specialist. Readers will giggle, tense up, and shake their heads as Hugh and Millie fumble through getting to know one another under impossible circumstances. Mansell's dialogue between Millie and Hugh is fresh and witty; some of the best sequences involve them rattling off their favorite words or their most hated things about people, particularly at times when they are awkward with one another. Although there are some cliche moments in this novel, Mansell has well-developed characters on the edge of reality who bounce dialogue off one another in a way that makes the pages fly in Millie's Fling.

Millie's Fling is Jill Mansell's latest North American release from Sourcebooks. Millie Brady is just trying to figure out how to avoid what she thinks may be a marriage proposal from Neil, when she spots a woman standing near to the edge of a cliff. She can't be thinking of....Millie hops out of the car and runs to the woman. Author Orla Hart was indeed thinking of jumping, but Millie's intervention changes her mind. Orla is so taken with Millie that she decides to make her next novel reality based. Millie's reality that is - with the names changed of course. And Orla just might help the plot along a little bit..... Tangled love lives, missed opportunities and signals, mistaken cues and Millie's job as a rollerskating gorillagram all combine to create a wonderfully charming, humorous and absolutely delightful tale. We know what's going on (or not as the case may be) and the plot pieces fall neatly into place by the end, but it is the ride (read) there that is so much fun. Mansell has created yet another warm, wonderful lead character in Millie. She is quirky, endearing and someone you would love to have as a friend. The supporting cast is no less appealing. Everyone knows someone just like Millie's best friend Hester - not quite content with what she has until it's too late. Millie's ex-employers - the couple that do everything together had me laughing out loud. Lothario Lucas turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Being a fan of all things British, I instantly had a mental image once Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen was used as a reference. I enjoyed all the references, although one left me stymied. Jill is a MEND a combo of mate and friend? This is a great read that will have you laughing out loud and wishing you lived in Newquay with Millie and her friends. Fans of chick lit - if you haven't read Mansell yet - what are you waiting for!?

This one of the first books by the author I have read. I absolutely loved it, I stayed up all night reading it, laughing and thinking, oh no, how could that happen! It was sweet and lovely and gave you a good feeling at the end.